Wire-straightening machine



Nov. 27, 1923. 1,

H. V. BACKUS WIRE STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Huber! V. EGC/TUJ Nov. 27 1923.

H. V. BACKUS WIRE STRAIGHI'ENING MACHINE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug 1 25 INVEN TOR. Huber! I/Bac/ws ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27,1923.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT V. BACKUS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO L. A. YOUNG INDUSTRIES,

INC., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WIRE-STBAIGHTENING MACHINE.

Application filed August 35, 1822. Serial N'o. 584,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Honnnr V. BACKUS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of lVayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Straightening Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto improvements in wire straightening machines. My improved wire straightening machine is especially designed for the salvaging of defective or old coiled springs, it being especially desirable for the straightening of relatively short wires, although desirable for straightening any deformed-piece of wire.

The main object of this invention is to provide in a wire straightening machine an improved feed means whereby the wire is straightened throughout its length.

A further object is to provide an improved wire straightening machine in which a piece .is effectively straightened and which is very compact and very durable in structure.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will defi nitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish. the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention. is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. I is a. rear perspective of my improved wire straightening or salvaging machine. I

Fig. II is a fragmentary side elevation, parts being broken away to better illustrate the structural details, the passage of a wire through the machine being illustrated by dotted lines and a coiled spring being shown by dotted lines as it is about to be introduced through the machine. 7

Fig. III is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a detail horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a diagrannnatic view of the electric control for the wire feed mechanism.

Fig. VI is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. 11' showing details of the rear feed rolls.

F 1g. VII 1s a perspective view of a coiled spring which the machine illustrated is es pecially designed to salvage. a

In the drawing similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout all the views: and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the supporting pedestal andv 2 the main frame or body of the machine. The straightening means is indicated by dotted lines at 3, the same being driven by the belt 4:. As this straightening means which I employ is of a type now in use I have not illustrated or described the same in detail here.

The wire is fed through the straightening means by the feed rolls 5 disposed in advance of the straightening means and the feed rolls 6 disposed at the rear thereof. lVire guides 7 are disposed between the feed rolls and the straightening means. An in- *troducing wire guide 8 is disposed in ad vance of the feed rolls 5. the end 9 of the coiled spring 10, or other piece of wire to be straightened, being introduced into the hole 11 of this guide 8 by the operator as shown in Fig; IV. r

The spindle 12 of the rear feed ro ls 6 is carried by a movable or sliding sup-port 13 actuated by the cam. 14: the cam being shaped to hold the movable roll in driving position during the desired period of time. The cam 14 is controlled by a clutch designated generally by the numeral 15, the clutch being normally disengaged. The driving gears16 for the rolls are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. II. The shaft 17 for the clutch 15 is connected to one of the gears 16 by a pinion 18 and gear 19 shown by dotted lines in Fig. II.

The clutch control lever 20 is controlled by an electromagnet 21 (see Figs. II and V). This electro-ma-gnet is controlled by a switch 22 pivoted at 23 and disposed through a transverse hole 24 in the guide 8 and held yieldingly across the hole 11 of the guide by means of the coiled spring 25. This switch coacts with a contact 26 connected by the wire 27 to the electromagnet. When a wire is introduced, its end engaging the beveled edge 28 of the switch (see Fig.

IV) throws the switch to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. III thereby disengaging it from. the contact 26 and allowing the clutch control lever to switch to clutch disengaging position. As soon as the rear end of the wire being straightened passes the switch, the switch automatically closes thereby actuating the electromagnet 21 to retract the clutch control lever 20, and through the cam, the rear feed rolls engage and feed the wire. This insures that the wire is straightened throughout its full length, the diilioulty heretofore having been that there was usually a portion of the rear end of the wire that was not straightened efi'eotively.

My improved wire salvaging machine is very eflicient; it is automatic with the exception of feeding the wire to be salvaged thereto; and it is of large capacity and very durable. I have illustrated and described my improvements as embodied in a machine for the salvaging of coiled springs. I'he machine is, however, adapted for use in straightening wire gene ally, especially when it is in relatively short strips, as the main object of the invention is to provide a machine which straightens the wire throughout its entire length.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is: l

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, a movable support for one of the rear pairs of feed rolls, an actuating cam for said support wher by the movable feed roll is actuated to operative position, a driving means for said cam including a clutch, means for controlling said clutch including an electromagnet, a wire guide for the first pair of feed rolls, and a control switch for said electromaget operatively associated with said guide to be engaged by the wire to be straightened.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, a movable support for one of the rear pairs feed rolls, an actuating cam for said support whereby the movable roller is actu ated to operative position, a driving means for said cam including a clutch, an electromechanical means for controlling said clutch including a switch disposed to be controlled by the wire to be straightened.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, the rear pair of rolls being normally separated, means for closing said rolls including a cam, a driving means for said cam including a clutch, means for controlling said clutch including an electro-magnet, a wire guide disposed in advance of the first pair of feed rolls, and a control switch for said electromagnet operatively associated with said guide to be engaged by the wire to be straightened. V

i. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, the rear pair of feed rolls being normally spaced, means for closing the rear pair of said feed rolls upon a wire including a cam, a driving means for said cam including a clutch, and an electro-mechanic-al means for controlling said clutch including a switch disposed to be controlled by the wire to be straightened.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, the rear pair of feed rolls being normally spaced, means for closing the rear pair of said feed rolls upon a wire including a cam, a driving means for said cam including a clutch, and means for controlling said clutch controlled by the wire to be straightened.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, the rear feed rolls being normally inoperative, and electro-mechanical means for rendering said feed rolls operative controlled by the wire to be straightened.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a wire straightening means, of feed rolls disposed in coacting pairs at the front and rear thereof, the rear feed rolls being normally inoperative, and means for rendering said feed rolls operative controlled by the wire to be straightened.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination with wire straightening means, of feed means comprising a pair of feed rolls disposed at the rear of the straightening means and normally separated, and electromechanical means for rendering said feed rolls operative to feed the wire being straightened controlled by the wire being straightened.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination with wire straightening means, of feed means comprising a pair of feed rolls disposed at the rear of the straightening means and normally separated, and means for rendering said feed rolls operative to feed the wire being straightened controlled by the wire being straightened.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

HUBERT V. BACKUS. [It s] 

